White Sox: Offseason Shouldn’t Be Judged By Signing of Top Free Agents

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to his first inning strike out against the Boston Red Sox in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to his first inning strike out against the Boston Red Sox in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

White Sox have the opportunity to sign superstar free agent but offseason can still be successful with signing the Gold Glove Award-winning infielder.

The White Sox have a great opportunity to add a superstar free agent this offseason. Whether its Manny Machado or Bryce Harper, the Sox can change the perception of their franchise with one key signing.

However, the success of this offseason doesn’t hinge on whether or not the Sox sign either Machado or Harper. The Sox front office has done a good job of adding other free agents and players via trade to fill other needs on the team.

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There will be some Sox fans who might deem this offseason as unsuccessful if the Machado or Harper isn’t signed. With the Sox having a contract reportedly offered to Machado, if he signs elsewhere, those same fans will likely be the loudest screaming that chairman Jerry Reinsdorf was too cheap.

Recently, there was a report that the San Diego Padres had emerged as being interested in signing Machado. Once this report was released, some Sox fans began to ponder whether the Padres could swoop in and outbid their favorite team for Machado.

Well, Sox fans might not have to worry about the Padres. According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres have yet to meet with Machado in person and it doesn’t appear that the 26-year-old prefers to play on the West Coast despite finishing a stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.

There have been many rumors that have floated around about Machado and Harper this offseason. Some rumors have favored the Sox, while other rumors have favored other teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies. If Sox fans continue to work themselves up over every rumor that’s released, they might not enjoy a potential signing of either aforementioned player.

If the Sox miss out on signing Machado or Harper this offseason, fans shouldn’t be quick to judge their efforts as unsuccessful. Ultimately, it will come down to whether either player wants to play with the Sox. None of us truly knows what the Sox have offered Machado or what they discussed with Harper. What we do know is the Sox have been aggressive in their attempts to sign one of these players. We just have to keep waiting until one of them decides to sign.

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